The Heaton File

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?'” (Malachi 1:2a)

Ingratitude And God’s Love

Ingratitude is the highest insult man can give the Lord. Pride is the sin of man believing that he is greater than his Creator and does not need the Divine. After the Jews returned from seventy years of captivity in the land of Babylon, the people struggled to trust the Lord and seek His blessings. Their hearts were cold and hard against the grace of God. Worship became a drab and unfeeling movement of apathy as they sacrificed polluted offerings and wearied to show love for the Lord. The prophet Malachi was burdened with the message of God’s displeasure to the rebellious and unthankful people.

From the beginning of God’s promise to Abraham to make him a great nation, the mercy and grace of God had been extended to Israel time without number. The journey of the Hebrews to a nation of God’s special people was arduous and difficult. After saving His people from the bondage of Egypt, the people complained and murmured for forty years. Because of their lack of faith in God, the nation wandered close to the promised land as everyone above the age of twenty died in the wilderness. Only Joshua and Caleb would live to walk on the soil of the promised land.

During the period of the Judges, God delivered the people from their tormentors. The Lord gave the people a king to lead them, but they were unsatisfied. After the death of Solomon, the nation fell into civil war and divided with Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The Assyrians destroyed the northern tribes, and God’s grace spared Judah the same fate. God allowed Babylon to carry His people into captivity for seventy years. The decree of Cyrus sent the Jews home, but it was the handwriting of God that made it possible. Throughout all the many years of Israel’s existence, God was always present to care for and protect His people. And now the Jews murmur against God that He does not love them.

The ingratitude of humanity against the will of God is characteristic of how the world watches the sunrise every day, and life is filled with the grandeur and wonder of creation, and they hate God. Life is given through the hand of the Divine, and man despises the name of the Lord. Everything that man is and has comes from the hand of God. The breath of life begins with the Almighty. Rains fill the parched ground, crops abound with the commerce of plenty, joy and happiness come from the portals of heaven, and man complains that God has no love for them. One of the greatest sins against the Almighty is the heart of ingratitude.

God tells man He loves them, and He sends His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. The world replies, “In what way have You loved us?” The hatred of man against God is seen in how the world rejects God’s mercy and grace. Man has no time for the Lord. The Bible is dismissed as a book of fairy tales. Worship is ridiculed. Righteousness is reviled. Hedonism is the God of humanity denying all the good things God has done. Jesus said His Father allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. God shows his love, and humankind shows his hatred.

Malachi’s message remains the same. God has done everything to bless man with the physical needs of life and give him hope of life after death. There is never a doubt about the love of God. In return, a man complains that God does not love him. The heart is filled with ingratitude for all the blessings of God. What man fails to see is the hand of the Lord in everything. Gratitude turns the heart toward the great Provider and Sustainer of life. Be thankful to God and turn your heart toward His blessings. See the hand of God in all things pertaining to life and happiness. Show your love to God by thanking God for His love. That can only be found in Jesus Christ.

I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:13-16)

The Only Potentate

A sovereign is someone who exercises absolute authority as supreme ruler. The authority of a king in a monarchy is complete, absolute, and without question. Democracy is not one of the traits of a monarchy. When a sovereign rules over an empire, there is no higher authority. The ruler establishes laws as solely his power to execute and enforce his will upon the people. There have been many benevolent rulers in history and many more tyrants who rule with an oppressive iron will.

The apostle Paul lived in the days of the Roman Empire with supreme rulers like Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus, and Imperator Nero Claudius Caesar. These rulers exercised great authority over their subjects. As great as their power, they were ruled by a higher authority in God’s divine will. History is filled with men who, through power, dominated their world with cruelty and oppression, but only for a short time. After the men died, their influence was lost and forgotten. Many great nations have filled the globe with their conquest, as the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans attest. While their reign was fierce and, in some cases, spanning many generations, they have all faded into the dust of history.

Jesus Christ is a King and is Lord. His sovereignty is different from that of men. Paul declares that Jesus is the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. As Potentate, Jesus is the only authority. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He gave His Son all authority. The covenant of blood was established through Jesus’s death, making Him the only Potentate. He is the supreme ruler and commander of the army of God. His word must not be ignored. The will of Jesus is in perfect union with the word of the Father. Jesus told His disciples what He taught was not His own word but what His Father commanded Him to preach.

The Christian world does not understand that Jesus is the only Potentate. This becomes evident when the teachings of the religious disciples do not come from the word of God. There are abundant things people believe and hold as truth that cannot be found in the word of God. The Bible is the law book of the King of Kings. As Lord above all lords, Jesus Christ is the final word. Serving as the kingdom’s only Potentate or Sovereign ruler, Jesus is the first and final word. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Nothing can be taken away from His word, and nothing can be added.

Jesus is Potentate. Salvation depends on whether a man is willing to submit to the complete will of the word of Jesus Christ. Any deviation from the word will bring harsh judgment from the King of kings. No ruler in the world has higher authority than Jesus Christ. No Supreme Court, Parliament, political group, kingship, or dictatorship exercises more authority than Jesus Christ. All men serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is the only Potentate. Peter challenged a group of powerful Jewish leaders, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.” The conclusion is that you must obey the will of the only Potentate.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

Learning To Be Content

It is not easy to be content. The desire for the good things in life has always tugged at the heart of men to want more, gain more, and enjoy the best. Wars have been fought because of greed. Families are destroyed by husbands and wives working to attain the dream of wealth, never growing in their love for one another until it is too late. Children become latch-key products of parents who are more concerned about a bigger house, new cars, and the world’s best toys. The untold story is the sad commentary of those who spend a lifetime gaining all the fineries of life and finding themselves at the end of life alone and unloved. So many lives were destroyed for what gain?

There is nothing wrong with wealth and enjoying the good things of life. The problem is not the riches of the world but the poverty of heart. Godliness does not allow the heart to consume itself with the pleasures of greed and avarice. Having a godly heart is not so much about a religious stance but a deeper understanding of what is of greater value. Money can never buy a baby’s smile. Having all the best in the world will not bring happiness. Money is green but can become the blackness of depravity and destruction. God directed man to have dominion over the earth, but He warned men about allowing the world to have dominion over their souls.

Contentment is a subjective concept. If a man seeks contentment to gain wealth and pleasure, he will not be content. Having enough to the greedy heart is always just a little more than what a man has. True contentment is when the heart focuses on the reality of the world’s treasures. Everything – without exception – is vain when sought for in the world. The Ancient Egyptians left a legacy of failing to take anything with them when they died. Tombs have been unearthed for thousands of years and are filled with the materialism of people who thought they could take it with them. Museums are overflowing with that failed religion.

Learning to be content is the key to true happiness. It begins by realizing that as the man Job observed, he came naked from his mother’s womb, and he died naked. At the end of his story, Job left all that he had – fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys; all of his houses, furniture, land, crops, servants, and family. They buried him, and his bones are lost to the shades of history. His only remembrance is through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Contentment is where the heart realizes what is important in life. Food is necessary to fuel the body. Clothing is essential to protect the body. Nothing else is needed except for a roof over the head and a means of travel. The American dream is to fill up the house with all the world’s stuff and, if needed, rent a few storage facilities to store all of the extra stuff; and to what end? Because the heart is not content, the credit debt consumes the life of the family.

Learning to be content comes from viewing life from God’s word. Having a relationship with a spouse, enjoying family time together, sharing fellowship with others who love the Lord, and finding joy in a quiet sunset, music that warms the heart, and a gentle stroll down the path with a loved one hand in hand. Godliness opens the eyes to what is really important in life. Seeking treasures outside this world will bring greater joy and more profound satisfaction. The rats are the only ones winning the rat race; then they die. Live for Jesus. Find contentment in the joy of knowing God’s love through the knowledge of His word.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

Trying To Change What God Has Made

The natural world is an amazing testimony to the design and function of God’s creation. There is order in the days of creation in perfect design. Light was created before the Sun and plants. Imagine the chaos if the trees were created before light. The laws of nature are in place for the good of man. Without the law of gravity, the world could not exist and would never be able to sustain life. The Earth is precisely the proper distance from the Sun, which is the perfect size and kind for life on Earth. Tides are regulated with precision, and with all the water on the planet, the continents will never be flooded. Every morning, the Sun rises in the east and disappears in the west. Perfect unity of heavenly bodies working in unison with life on earth.

When men discovered flight, they did not change the laws of God. Flying temporarily suspends the law of gravity, but other laws allow the airplane to fly. Four laws of aerodynamics (lift, weight, thrust, and drag) send the aircraft into the air. If any of these laws fail, the law of gravity takes over. Scientists can send machines into space with the precision of divine laws that allow men to land and walk on the moon or send probes to Mars and far away places. If any laws are broken, men die, and machines break.

The wise man reflected upon the will of God that nothing man can do will change the course of God’s design. This is abundantly clear in nature, yet man believes he can change the word of God. Until humanity accepts the way God does things, there will be strife, hatred, prejudice, lawlessness, and a world filled with darkness. Denying the earth is round does not change the truth; it only makes the one who does not believe mistaken. Trying to change the design of God will never change what the Lord has established. Every generation that moves away from believing in the one true God will find itself in jeopardy quickly. No nation will survive that denies God.

Who can make straight what the Lord has made crooked? History is filled with the remnants of nations and people who tried to change the purpose of God. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans are some of the most powerful nations in world history, yet they no longer exist because of the word of the Lord. Jesus told His Jewish brethren that Israel would no longer be the people of God. Israel is not a Biblical nation. Jesus promised to build His church, and that word was accomplished on Pentecost. The church Jesus built has existed for more than two thousand years. Men have tried to change the church’s design, purpose, and work to no avail. They have created many denominations from the apostate Roman and Orthodox churches, but have they changed the word of the Lord? The true body of believers remains intact in the hearts of the devout people seeking His will.

There is nothing man can do to straighten what God has made crooked. The lesson for those who seek the will of the Father is to accept the word of God as truth (because it is) and follow it without change. God’s word is still true. All the efforts of men to change God’s mind are futile and silly. God is true. Nothing will change that.

Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2)

Wisdom From Grief

There is so much to find joy in life. The birth of a baby brings a smile. Finding first love endears the heart with happiness. Friendships stir the emotions of bonding with laughter and enjoyment. A glad heart makes a happy face. In the face of the joys of life, there come those times of sorrow and sadness. Life cannot be roses without thorns. One goes with the other. It would be an impossible world to live without sorrow.

Pain is a source of wisdom and is needful. Without pain, the body would be destroyed. God created the body to be sensitive to what could destroy it by placing nerve cells throughout the flesh. When a hand is held over an open flame, the body reacts with pain, warning the brain that danger is present. Without the presence of the nerve cells, the body would burn up. There is a sense in which sorrow is the nerve cell of the spirit of man. Pain and sorrow find their way into everyone’s life. No one can live very long without the sting of grief impacting their lives.

Life is a series of realities. Some pleasant and many not so pleasant. The death of a loved one can outweigh the joy of a new baby. It hurts. A lot. The human spirit is overwhelmed with grief, paralyzing the mind, sapping the strength, and crushing the heart. In the sorrow of the heart, the breath is oppressed. In all of this sorrow, the Lord said it is a better thing. Why is it better to go to the house of mourning? Wisdom is found in the story of death because it reminds the soul how frail life is.

It is easy to become so overwhelmed with the busy things of living that forgotten is the dark reality that life is tenuous at best and final at last. The house of mourning reminds the soul that life is short and all will die. That is a reality that is hard to accept. The end of all men is what men pretend will never happen. When it does occur, there is shock. It can become difficult to live with the gravity of loss. Suffering is a part of life that is hard to accept. The sadness of growing older is the knowledge that sorrow will increase more directly and indirectly. There will be personal loss and indirect loss from others. The only hope to navigate the turbulent waters of grief is to know how life ends and what life is really about.

God never intended for men to live forever on the Earth. He desired for His creation to dwell with Him in eternity. Man was created a creature that would die. Jesus came not to take away pain and sorrow but to offer men an avenue of hope to deal with grief. The Romans killed Jesus. He tasted death so that men could taste grief and live. Seeking answers to the house of mourning can only be found in the wisdom of God. Life is not about the here and now – it never has been. When men come to that understanding, they will find greater hope and courage to face the trials of life. Do not build your life on the shambles of an ending world. This world, like your life, will come to an end. There is no doubt about that fact. Live with a view of eternity. It will change your life and help in times of grief. God will wipe all tears away, but that will not happen until eternity. Then we will understand everything.

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)

Life Is In The Blood

The human body is a wonderful design of a divine architect. There is nothing that man can create that marvels at the unique creation of how God formed the human frame. The key to life is found in the blood flowing through the veins, which brings life, healing, and cleansing. Blood is necessary for life because life is in the blood. Whether from a spiritual view or a scientific conclusion, all agree on the importance and necessity of blood. God created the body with its intricate source of blood vessels coursing through every organ and tissue to sustain it with life. The natural design of life in the blood is the antitype of the need for life in the spiritual blood.

Jesus was fashioned as a man in every respect. He was God, but He took on flesh, born of a woman in the natural fashion, growing from infancy to manhood. Blood flowed in the veins of Jesus. When He cut his finger, it bled. His heart beat more than one hundred thousand times daily, moving the blood throughout his body. Eight pints of blood delivered oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to tissues and organs daily. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. This weakened the Savior as He prepared for the trial of crucifixion.

Before a man is crucified, the Romans would scourge him. This was a near-death experience as soldiers used a whip to lacerate the back of the victim almost to the point of death. Blood loss was excessive. Keeping the victim alive, the soldiers would take the man to the place of execution and nail him to a cross. The procedure was a bloody process of exacting as much misery on the body as possible. Jesus experienced all of this. Golgotha was a place covered in the blood of previous victims. Jesus was scourged and then crucified. His suffering was attended by blood splattering everywhere and pouring down his body.

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. He called the fruit of the vine the blood of the new covenant, and His blood was shed for the remission of sins. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus told His disciples that whoever ate of His flesh and drank His blood had eternal life. His language was metaphorical of eternal life in His blood. As life is in the physical blood, so eternal life is in the blood of Jesus. Without the blood of Jesus, there is no eternal life. Under the Law of Moses, the Lord said blood makes atonement for the soul. The difference in Jesus’ blood was that it was pure from sin and was only offered once.

Jesus is the source of eternal life. Through His blood, sins are washed away. Baptism is necessary for salvation because, in baptism, sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. If a person refuses to be baptized, they will never have the blood of atonement. In the taking of the Lord’s Supper, the remembrance of the blood of the new covenant is instilled in the hearts of the faithful. Walking in the light of God’s grace, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses the heart from all sin. Life is in the blood. Eternal life is in the blood of Jesus. Have you been washed in the blood?

My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” (Psalm 55:4-8)

On The Wings Of A Dove

Sorrow and pain are the consequence of man’s rebellion in the garden. God did not intend for His creation to experience grief, but since the time Adam and Eve were removed from Eden, the intense feelings of loss accompanied the lives of every man. It is difficult to imagine how crushed Adam and Eve were when Cain killed Abel. Who did they turn to for solace? How did they understand death or rationalize the murder of their son by their son? It is unfathomable to imagine their sorrow.

The Bible is filled with stories of grief and loss. King David had his share of sorrow. Some were brought on by his own recklessness, and other times, those who sought to destroy him. He wrote many psalms describing the deep feelings of pain and suffering at the hands of others. There were stories never revealed to the background of the psalms but with an understanding of the human story is but to know David’s experiences were not uncommon. David had enemies. King Saul tried to kill him for many years. In all of this, David sought the only source of comfort that could give him true meaning in life. His relationship with the Lord was his anchor of hope.

On one occasion, David found himself deeply troubled by the trials of suffering, including the terrors of death. Fear and trembling overwhelmed him with great anxiety. He was trembling with his grief. His world was overtaking him with the weight of his pain. There was almost no hope for him. His greatest desire was to have the wings of a dove to fly away and rest. He wanted to fly away to the quiet of the wilderness. If only he could escape his grief and find peace again. His life was like a windy storm and a blowing tempest with no escape. He prayed to God to find him relief and give him cause to rejoice in the favor of the Lord.

David knew his answer was found in his relationship with God. In the face of his grief, he called on God to rescue him. His prayer reached the divine portals morning, noon, and night. He knew God heard his prayer and would ransom him and keep him safe. David’s consolation was to know that God rules forever. There was nothing that man could do against him if David trusted the word of the Lord and His presence. The joy in David’s darkest night was that God would hear him. There is no greater hope than to see God’s power working in a man’s heart depending on God.

To fly away on the wings of a dove is where true peace and happiness are found. Like Noah sending out the dove who returned with an olive branch in its mouth, peace comes from the hand of the Lord. It is not an easy task to overcome grief, but it can be done. Trying to find a path through the valley of darkness without God will fail. Jesus faced His greatest hour praying and trusting the Father. God took care of Jesus and watched Him die. On the third day, God raised His Son from the grave. Sometimes, God will allow the difficulties of grief to almost overwhelm us, but He will never allow it to destroy us. We have the promise of God as an anchor that we can overcome. Through that promise, we can mount up on the wings of a dove and find peace once again. Oh, that I had wings like a dove. I would fly away and be at rest.

I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, “He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.” Now I tell you before it comes that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. (John 13:18-19)

Why Jesus Told The Twelve Who His Betrayer Was

The ministry of Jesus had lasted for nearly three years. From His disciples, Jesus had chosen twelve men to be His apostles. They had been with Jesus for a little over two years, listening to His teachings, witnessing and participating in His miracles, watching Him rebuke the religious leaders, and seeing His compassion for the human spirit. Near the end of His ministry, the Son of God told the apostles that He would go to Jerusalem, where He would suffer many things, be killed, and rise from the dead on the third day.

On one occasion, Jesus told His disciples He would die; they became very sorrowful. Their sorrow did not last long, and they soon forgot what Jesus said. Jesus knew when His last week was coming. On Thursday before His crucifixion, Jesus knew His hour had come. It was time for the fulfillment of God’s divine plan to be in motion for the execution of God’s Son to redeem sinful man. During the Feast of the Passover, Jesus took the supper with the twelve as a memorial feast to what the twelve did not know would happen. He knew what was about to happen. The apostles were completely unaware.

After washing the feet of the twelve men, Jesus impressed upon them a lesson on servitude. In the back of Jesus’ mind, He knew that Judas had arranged to betray his Lord for thirty pieces of silver and was waiting for an opportunity to make good his offer. The Holy Spirit is silent about the interaction of Jesus and Judas as the Son of God washed the feet of the one who would betray Him. Did Jesus take an extra moment to wash the feet of Judas? As the Lord gazed upon the rugged feet of Judas, did He reflect on what those feet would shortly be doing and why? Jesus washed the feet of Judas.

During the Feast of the Passover, Jesus tells the twelve men in the upper room that one of them is going to betray Him. The disciples were perplexed as to what Jesus meant. For them, everything was fine, and they enjoyed a memorable and meaningful time with Jesus, singing the Hallel psalms and commemorating the deliverance of the Jews from Egypt. To eleven of the disciples, all was well. Judas was anxious as he plotted to carry out his plan. As the thirteen men reclined around the table, Jesus proclaimed the one who dipped bread with Him would betray Him.

Quoting from a psalm of David writing about suffering from his enemies, Jesus speaks about the one who eats bread with Him as a man who will lift up his heel against Him. It is a direct quote about what happened between Jesus and Judas. Jesus dips His bread and hands it to Judas. Judas goes out immediately to the chief priests and elders without eating the bread. In a short time, Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified. The lesson imprinted on the hearts of the eleven after the resurrection is that Jesus said that Judas would betray Him. Jesus tells the eleven of the betrayal of Judas to prove that He was the Son of God and that His death was the divine plan. It proved Him to be the Son of God. No man could have shown the prophecy of Psalm 41 with such clarity of action as did Jesus Christ the night He was betrayed.

Judas acted on his own will, but it was the plan of God that Jesus be betrayed by one of His own and that He suffered death on the cross. The eleven were shocked at the actions of Judas and disheartened when he killed himself, but Jesus had proven He was the Son of God by demonstrating without a shadow of a doubt He knew what Judas planned. He told His disciples what would happen so they could believe He was God’s Son. There was no doubt. The eleven took the command from Jesus after His resurrection and shared the story of Jesus with the whole world. They believed Jesus was the Son of God with many proofs; none so powerful as that night when He told them about Judas.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:17-18)

What The Christian Strives For

There is a lot of evil and hatred in the world. Living as a child of God can be challenging within a society bent on ungodliness. It has always been true that the righteous are the minority. The only time the godly people of Earth were the majority was Adam and Eve in the garden before the fall. Since sin entered the world, ungodliness has reigned supreme. From the days of Enoch, whom God took from earth without seeing death, and the turbulent years of Noah facing a world wholly filled with wickedness, God has always wanted His people to be separate from the world. Righteous men and women rose to honor God with their lives. Great names like Abraham, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, and a host of godly men and women lived faithful lives.

Jesus died to establish His church. Through His blood, He purchased the church, and by the working of the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of God grew from twelve men to millions. For more than two thousand years, the people of God have ruled the world in righteousness as a minority influence in a world filled with darkness. The character of the Christian is that he is not like those in the world. His life is set above and set apart to the glory of God. Everything about his life is worship to the Lord God. His example, faith, dedication, honesty, and integrity glorify the name of Jesus Christ in all they do. How the Christian presents his life is different from the world. Paul wanted the Roman Christians to show the world how different they were by the way they lived.

The apostle shows that Christians do not repay an evil deed with an evil deed. Worldly philosophy teaches an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If someone does evil to a man, he deserves the same returned upon him. This is not the character of the Christian. God forbids His children to exercise evil on others. God will take those matters into His hands if there is any consequence to evil. He forbids His children to be involved in repaying evil for evil. The Christian seeks for the good in all things in the sight of all men. Jesus said the peacemakers are called the sons of God because they act like their Father.

Living as a faithful Christian comes from the desire to live at peace with all men as much as possible. Every effort must be made to seek peace. Jesus did not revile those who treated Him so violently. He could have called down twelve legions of angels to render evil upon those who crucified Him, but He refused to cower to the whims of the evil one. The example of Jesus is how men should seek to live at peace with others. There can never be a spirit of returning evil upon others. Everything a Christian does seeks the good of others.

The character of the Christian can be hard to have in the workforce. In a dog-eat-dog world, repaying evil for evil and returning the favor to the aggressor is ungodly in the eyes of the eternal judge. A child of God sets themselves above the carnal fray of the world. In every situation, good is sought for and exploited for the glory of God. The world must see Christians as examples of Jesus Christ when dealing with those who oppose them. Enemies of the Christian have prayers lifted for them, good deeds done for them, and kind words spoken by those who love God. Be like Christ. Live in peace with all.

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)

The Centurion At The Cross

The Roman Army made its presence known throughout the Empire by placing soldiers at every strategic location to maintain order, discipline, and security. Palestine was a back-water duty station as the Romans watched over the rebellious Jews. Roman soldiers filled the streets of Jerusalem. Crucifixion was common at Golgotha, directed by an elite group of soldiers who had perfected the art of human suffering. A centurion oversaw the details of crucifixions. As an officer of the Roman guard, the centurion had one hundred men at his command.

When Jesus and the two prisoners were taken to Golgotha, only four soldiers and the centurion led the procession. The four soldiers could make quick work of the crucifixion as they had done this many times. While the process was being done, the centurion observed to ensure the nails were properly placed and the mode of crucifixion was carried out correctly. If any of the condemned escaped death, the centurion and his soldiers would be accountable for their own deaths. It was not unusual when a man expired on the cross for one of the soldiers to drive his lance through the heart to make certain death took place. He precisely knew the place to thrust his spear to full effect. Jesus was dead.

The suffering on the cross was extreme for Jesus. For six long agonizing hours, the Son of God writhed with intense pain. Incredibly, Jesus was able to voice seven things while on the cross. At the beginning of His suffering, the two men crucified with Him cursed, swore, and screamed at Jesus. The Lord did not revile in return. One of the thieves had a change of heart and begged Jesus for mercy. A gentle and loving Savior granted it. Jesus never screamed at the soldiers or the crowd and acted as most men would dying such a horrible death. The disposition of Jesus on the cross was something the centurion had never seen. There was something different about this man from Nazareth.

For the long hours of Jesus’ suffering, the centurion kept watch on Him. He saw the demeanor of Jesus, His compassion for others, a voice of forgiveness, and a spirit of godliness. When Jesus died, the world fell apart. The veil in the Temple tore in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. Golgotha was rocked to its core, and the centurion witnessed it all. The darkness lasted for three hours, ending when Jesus died. Everything sent shock waves through the mind of the centurion. He had never witnessed such things.

When Jesus died, the centurion reacted the only way he knew how. He acknowledged that the man in the middle of those crucified was not ordinary. Watching Jesus die, he exclaimed, “This man was the Son of God.” Luke says that when Jesus died, the centurion glorified God and said, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” The centurion most likely took charge of Jesus when the Jews brought Him to Pilate. Jesus was mocked by the garrison of soldiers, spit upon, beaten with a rod, humiliated, and led away for crucifixion. During all these sufferings, Jesus never reviled in return. Jesus’ calm demeanor moved the centurion.

It is difficult to say whether the centurion acknowledged a firm belief in Jesus as being the Son of God from a divine perspective. Nothing is known about the centurion after the death of Jesus. What is known is the powerful example of God’s Son upon a Gentile accustomed to watching men die without dignity and honor. Sadly, the man charged with killing Jesus may have realized for the first time the man he was crucifying was innocent – and he knew that without a doubt. Did the centurion become a Christian? The Holy Spirit is silent, and one can only pray the story of Jesus impacted his heart. But – it may not have. Many people saw Jesus die and never believed Him to be the Son of God.

Jesus left an example of faith and love for the Father in His greatest suffering. He knew he was accomplishing the Father’s will, and Jesus gave glory to God in death. As a result of His powerful example, Jesus caused the heart of a Roman military officer callused from many crucifixions to exclaim the glory of God in the death of the man in the middle. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus just got more intense. My life must be lived in such a way as to glorify God and to leave an impression on others of that divine glory. Let it be that when others see my life, they will say, “There goes a righteous man or a godly woman.” Praise God.